Support Pillow for Prone Position

Abstract

A support pillow provides a central section and two adjustable side sections allowing for comfortable use by female users while in the prone position, such as during a massage, acupuncture, or other medical procedure. The central section provides comfortable support for the head and neck, while the side sections are positionable under the user to relieve pressure on the breasts and chest area. A tether between the side sections allows them to be held in place while the support pillow is in use.

Claims

1. A support pillow, comprising: a central section having a first end and a second end; a first side section having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first side section pivotably connected to said first end of said central section; and a second side section having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second side section pivotably connected to said second end of said central section.

2. The support pillow as recited in claim 1, further comprising an adjustable tether having: a first end attached to said second end of said first side section; and a second end attached to said second end of said second side section, wherein said adjustable tether is configured to hold said first side section and said second side section at a desired angled position relative to said central section.

3. The support pillow as recited in claim 2, wherein said adjustable tether further comprises two portions which are tied together to a length which holds said first side section and said second side section at said desired angle position.

4. The support pillow as recited in claim 2, wherein said adjustable tether further comprises an adjuster configured to allow adjustment of said tether in order to hold said first side section and said second side section at said desired angle position.

5. The support pillow as recited in claim 4, wherein said adjuster comprises a frictional connector.

6. The support pillow as recited in claim 1, wherein said central section comprises a central exterior covering constructed to form a central internal cavity, wherein said central internal cavity is filled with a compressible pillow material.

7. The support pillow as recited in claim 6, wherein said first side section comprises a first exterior covering constructed to form a first internal cavity, wherein said first internal cavity is filled with said compressible pillow material, and wherein said second side section comprises a second exterior covering constructed to form a second internal cavity, wherein said second internal cavity is filled with said compressible pillow material.

8. The support pillow as recited in claim 7, wherein said compressible pillow material comprises memory foam.

9. The support pillow as recited in claim 8, wherein said memory foam comprises gel-infused memory foam.

10. The support pillow as recited in claim 7, wherein said central exterior covering, said first exterior covering, and said second exterior covering comprise cotton.

11. The support pillow as recited in claim 10, wherein said support pillow is constructed to be machine washable.

12. The support pillow as recited in claim 7, wherein said central exterior covering, said first exterior covering, and said second exterior covering comprise an air-impermeable material.

13. The support pillow as recited in claim 12, wherein said compressible pillow material comprises air.

14. The support pillow as recited in claim 1, wherein said central section comprises a substantially circular cross section.

15. The support pillow as recited in claim 1, wherein said central section comprises a substantially oval cross section.

16. A support pillow, comprising: a central section, comprising: a first end, a second end, a cross section having a shape selected from the group consisting of circular and oval, a central section height, an internal filling, and a covering around said internal filling; a first side section, comprising: a first end pivotably attached to said first end of said central section, a second end, a first side section height, an internal filling, and a covering around said internal filling; a second side section, comprising: a first end pivotably attached to said second end of said central section, a second side section height, an internal filling, and a covering around said internal filling; and a tether, comprising: a cord having a first end attached to said second end of said first side section and a second end, and an adjuster connected to said second end of said second side section, wherein said second end of said cord is passed through said adjuster, wherein said adjuster is configured to hold said cord at a desired position, causing said first section and said second section to remain at a desired angle position with respect to said central section, wherein said first section height is equal to said second section height, and wherein said central section height is less than said first section height.

17. The support pillow as recited in claim 16, wherein said adjuster comprises a friction connector.

18. The support pillow as recited in claim 16, wherein said covering of said central section, said covering of said first section, and said covering of said second section comprise a fabric made of cotton.

19. The support pillow as recited in claim 16, wherein said internal filling of said central section, said internal filling of said first section, and said internal filling of said second section comprise memory foam.

20. The support pillow as recited in claim 16, wherein said internal filling of said central section, said internal filling of said first section, and said internal filling of said second section comprise conventional pillow stuffing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, and wherein:

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive, examples of embodiments and/or features. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. In the drawings:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a side plan view of the support pillow for prone users showing two side sections pivotally connected to opposing ends of a central section of the pillow.

[0023] FIG. 2a depicts a sectional view along line 2-2 of figure one showing a circular configuration of the body of the central section.

[0024] FIG. 2b depicts another sectional view along line 2-2 of figure one showing an oval configuration of the body of the central section.

[0025] FIG. 3 depicts the pillow device as in FIG. 1, showing the two side sections pivoting at first ends in their engagement to the central section, and showing the tether adjusted for length to hold the side sections in this angled positioning relative to the axis of the central section.

[0026] FIG. 4 depicts the device of FIGS. 1-3 in an as-used positioning, underneath and supporting body of a prone patient on a support surface.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the support pillow for prone users wherein the side sections are integral with the central section;

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a side plan view of the alternative embodiment of the support pillow for prone users of FIG. 5;

[0029] FIG. 7 depicts the pillow device as in FIG. 5, showing the tether adjusted for length to show the side sections at an angled positioning relative to the axis of the central section; and

[0030] FIG. 8 depicts the pillow device as in FIG. 5, showing an alternate tether mechanism wherein two separate lengths of tether are provided and may be tied together at the desired tether length.

[0031] Other aspects of the present invention shall be more readily understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the following detailed description, neither of which should be considered limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only, they are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

[0033] Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-4, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there can be seen in FIG. 1, the device 10 herein, in a side plan view. As shown, the device 10 includes a central section 12 having two ends, and a pair of side sections 14, each of which is connected at a respective first end, to one end of the central section 12.

[0034] As noted, the central section 12 of the device 10 is preferably configured in a circular or oval circumference. This oval or circular shape has shown, during experimentation, to provide a more comfortable support underneath the neck of a prone positioned user. Formation of the central section 12 to this oval or circular configuration is accomplished by employment of a covering 16 of fabric or material which is pre-configured to maintain this general shape, once the filling 18 housed within the covering 16 of the central section 12, is compressed between the table surface of the neck of the user.

[0035] The filling 18 used in the central section 12, may be conventional pillow stuffing or down or feathers or synthetic material. Particularly preferred however, for the filling 18 in this central section 12 is a memory foam, or a viscoelastic foam, or gel memory foam material of a density adapted for comfort but support, since such material holds a shape for support. Alternatively, the central section 12 may be made of an air-impermeable material such as vinyl and filled with air.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2a, which is a sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, the filling 18 is held inside the cover 16 of the central section 12, and the covering 12 and the shape of the filling 18 if foam or gel, can act to maintain this shape. The same is true of the sectional view of FIG. 2b. As shown in FIG. 3, the pillow device 10 has two side sections 14. A first end of each respective side section 14, is pivotally connected to one end of the central section 12, in a manner allowing the side sections 14 to angle toward each other when adjusted by a user to desired positions for use such as shown in the as-used positioning of the device 10 shown in FIG. 4.

[0037] Both side sections 14 have an exterior covering 20 which is sewn or otherwise constructed to form an internal cavity in which a compressible pillow material is held within the side sections 14. In some embodiments, the exterior coverings 20 of the side sections are integral with the covering 16 of the central section, forming a single covering for the pillow device 10. One such embodiment is described more fully below in FIGS. 5-7.

[0038] As noted, both side sections 14 are pivotable in their respective connection to the central section 12, when moving to the as-used position selected by the user. While the side sections 14 might be held in the as-used position by the weight of the user, it is preferable to include the adjustment tether 22 which is adjustable in length and engaged at or adjacent the second ends of each of the two side sections 14. Adjustment of the tether length 22 will hold the two side sections 14 in their desired angled positions relative to the axis of the central section 12. The length may be adjusted by simply tying portions of the tether 22 to achieve the desired length, or an adjuster 25 may be provided such as a buckle, a frictional connector, a hook and loop connector such as is sold under the VELCRO brand, or a drawstring cord lock providing a spring loaded clamp, which will allow a pulling of the tether 22 therethrough, and which will hold and maintain the length of the tether 22 for the duration of use.

[0039] Also shown in FIG. 3 is an optional air fill port 28, which is used with inflatable variants of the present invention in which the filling 18 is air.

[0040] Finally, shown in FIG. 4, is the device 10 of FIGS. 1 and 3, positioned to an as-used positioning, underneath and supporting body of a prone user 24 who is lying on a support surface 26 such as a massage table. As shown, the two side sections 14 have been pivoted in their respective engagement to the central section 12 which is positioned underneath the neck of the user. The side sections 14 have been drawn inward toward each other to positions underneath the user 24 which support their body in a manner determined by the user 24 to relieve the pressure normally imparted to the chest area when lying prone.

[0041] Referring now to FIG. 5, a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the pillow device is shown and generally designated 30. Pillow device 30 has a tether 42 attached to a unified body described more fully below.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 6, the pillow device 30 comprises a unified body having a central section 32 and two side sections 34, in which the central section 32 is integral with the two side sections 34 and defined by a narrowing of the pillow between the side sections 34. The pillow itself is defined by an exterior covering 40 forming a horseshoe shape comprising the two side sections 34 connected by a narrow neck herein referred to as the central section 32. The exterior covering encloses a filling 18 (shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B).

[0043] The filling 18 used in the pillow device 30, may be conventional pillow stuffing or down or feathers or synthetic material. Particularly preferred however, for the filling 18 in pillow device 30 is a memory foam, or a viscoelastic foam, or gel memory foam material of a density adapted for comfort but support, since such material holds a shape for support. Alternatively, the pillow device 30 may be made of an air-impermeable material such as vinyl and filled with air. When the pillow device 30 uses air as the filling 18, it may be inflatable and deflatable via an air fill port 48. However, air fill port 48 need not be present if the pillow device 30 uses materials other than air as the filling 18, or if the pillow device 30 is otherwise not user inflatable.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 7, a tether 42 aids in holding the side sections 34 in place. As with other embodiments, the side sections 34 may be adjusted to a desired angle with the central section 32 for the user's comfort. While the side sections 34 might be held in the as-used position by the weight of the user, it is preferable to include the adjustment tether 42 which is adjustable in length and engaged at or adjacent the second ends of each of the two side sections 34. Adjustment of the tether length 42 will hold the two side sections 34 in their desired angled positions relative to the axis of the central section 32. An adjuster 45 may be provided such as a buckle, a frictional connector, a hook and loop connector such as is sold under the VELCRO brand, or a drawstring cord lock providing a spring loaded clamp, which will allow a pulling of the tether 42 therethrough, and which will hold and maintain the length of the tether 42 for the duration of use.

[0045] Referring now to FIG. 8, the pillow device 30 may include a tether 42 formed with a two lengths of cord, a first cord 42A and a second cord 42B, instead of an adjuster 45. One length of cord of the tether 42 is attached to each of the two side sections 34. The two cords 42A and 42B are tied together at the desired tether length in order to achieve the desired angled positions of the two side sections 34 relative to the axis of the central section 32. The alternate tether 42 made of a first cord 42A and a second cord 42B without the use of an adjuster may also be used with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4.

[0046] It should be noted and anticipated that although the support pillow device 10 for prone users 24 herein is shown in its most simple form, various components and aspects of the device may be differently shaped or slightly modified when forming the invention herein. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate the descriptions and depictions set forth in this disclosure or merely meant to portray examples of preferred modes within the overall scope and intent of the invention, and are not to be considered limiting in any manner.

[0047] While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the support pillow invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

[0048] While there have been shown what are presently considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, combinations, and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Thus the scope of the invention should not be limited according to these factors, but according to the following claims.